Letter to the Editor: Feb. 9, 2013

I feel I must respond to the proposed tax to be imposed on income earned in the city limits.

Let me say first I am a commercial property owner, owner of two businesses within the city of Adrian and of course work at both of these businesses. I have owned and worked in the city limits for more than 20 years. I am a HUGE supporter of business, especially downtown business here in Adrian.

In those 20 years I have paid commercial property taxes to the city on the building and its property, taxes to the federal government and state on wages earned and even have to pay a personal property tax to the city of Adrian on personal property that I have in both businesses that I use to conduct business. How much MORE can we take?

Several years ago at a meeting between local business owners and city officials, they asked for ideas from us as to how to improve the city's fiscal situation. Well, I'm an idea girl and I LOVE a challenge! Within days I had several really cool programs that would have not only raised money for the city at little cost to City Hall — AND been a steady source of income for years to come — but also improved use of city-owned facilities. I emailed back and forth with excitement to help the city I love.

What happened? The idea was lost? Forgotten? Deemed undoable? I don't have the answer to that; only they do.

So when I see a tax just being pushed out as the answer to everything, it makes me wonder: Have they looked into alternative ideas? Because I'm all about bringing Adrian back to the vibrant cityscape it once was! And I am CERTAIN it can be done without throwing another tax onto the already burdened business owners and those working within the city limits! It may also may also make some who were interested in doing business within the city limits think twice abut investing in Adrian.